But it was pressure, not genius, that defined the early part of the first stanza, with the blaring noise from the stands so loud that it almost distorted. Attempts at passing were barely that.

When Kresinger and Jerome Polenz closed down their opponents so quickly that Brisbane had to throw the ball away, the tone was set.

Besart Berisha was quickly anointed public enemy No.1. When he was fouled after dancing past two players, he went to ground and rolled over – and then incensed the crowd by cheekily rolling over once again. The brilliant Albanian devilishly revels in his alter-ego as the A-League's agent provocateur. But it was a goal from across the Balkans that blew the roof off the stadium.

The improvisation from the Croatian was exquisite – and no less than Kresinger deserved for his thankless shifts all season.

But it wasn't the finish that will have pleased Tony Popovic. What will be highlighted this week will be how he pressured and fought to win the ball in the first place.

It is not extravagant to suggest that in that mad 30 seconds, from challenge to completion, Kresinger earned himself a new contract.

The tactical battle on the sidelines was crucial. Two sets of the league-standard 4-2-3-1, but with both teams using ball-players in the holding role.

So it wasn't formations that defined the game. It would be the differences in how the two coaches deployed possession and pressure. The Wanderers' excellent application of both has underlined their success this season and Brisbane's response was what really mattered.

Eventually they realised the best way through the Wanderers was exactly that – not to be sucked into playing high balls out from the back, but weaving a path through on the deck. To the Wanderers' credit, their frenetic closing-down from the front made this exceptionally difficult.

When the visitors smashed long balls out in panic, it only relieved pressure, never fostered counter-attacks. Brisbane's most likely threat seemed Mitch Nichols. He sneaks between the lines to find space and always peeled off to find space. His set-up for Ben Halloran, who flashed his subsequent shot wide, was a sign of hope early in the second half.

But the Wanderers' threat could never be discounted, primarily because of Youssouf Hersi's trickery, Mark Bridge's intent and Ono's guile.

The only dark spot for the hosts was Hersi's sending off with 10 minutes to play – but nothing would spoil this sweetest of nights.